.eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

For years, I used TheBat! e-mail program on my Win98 machine; and when I got a new machine (WinXP Pro SP-2) I started using it there also. Everything works fine except for one niggling little issue. Whenever I turn-on my machine and go into TheBat!, I get this warning that ".eml files are not associated with TheBat!". I tell it to make the association, and everything is fine until I turn the machine off. Next time in, I get the same message. Apparently each time the machine gets turned-on the .eml files get re-associated with Outlook Express. I don't know how or why this is happening, I never open OE. And I can't figure out how to make it stop.

Looking at the Internet Options settings, TheBat! is my default e-mail client. Outlook Express is shown for newsgroups, but I don't do anything with newsgroups. But maybe this has something to do with the file association?

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

At a broad guess, this may be a "feature" of SP2. A possible workaround is to set yourself up with a VBScript that runs on start-up setting the .eml association back to TheBat! Note: I have not tried this technique w/ SP2. A sample script file I used to use for other purposes (extension changed from from .vbs to .txt) - is attached purely for your tinkering leisure. HTH

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

Would you care to try an experiment to see if it really IS an SP2 question? I tried the following on an XP Pro SP1 machine and it "sticks" through a reboot. First, I took a look at Folder Options Associations to verify that .EML is in fact associated with Outlook Express. It was.

I right-clicked on a .EML file, choosing Open With and then Choose Program. I used this route specifically to make sure I would get the checkbox you see in the attachment. I tested by double-clicking an .EML file and it opened with Mozilla. After reboot, it still opens with Mozilla. BTW this was an easy one for me since I don't happen to have an SP2 loaded machine to try it on this morning. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

Just a followup, Mark, to say that I couldn't stand the suspense so I fired up an SP2 machine and tried the above on that machine too. It also stuck through a re-start. To be fair I should also mention two things. I used an .EML file that is in fact an HTML formatted email I received from Acronis Software and is included in a Zip file attachment to <!post=my post here.,437018>my post here.<!/post> So the fact is that when I change the association to "Mozilla" the .EML double-click opens the browser, not the email client. Secondly, I see that when in Windows Explorer looking at the folder that contains the .EML file, the File "Type" column still says Outlook Express, but I think that's a separate issue from the association. I'm not going to bother with that for now. Let us know how you make out.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

No luck. I'm tried selecting a .eml file and right-clicking to get the "Open With". I set it to TheBat, and clicked the "Always open with this program", then Saved. On restart, it still was once again associated with Outlook Express.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

Hi, I have been using TheBat! email client for years and have only answered that question once. I forget what I answered but have never been asked again, even when updating to new versions. I do not know why your manual association did not stick but I poked around in The Bat! and found where it could be set from there. Have you looked in Options/Preferences/Applications ?? I tested a .EML file and found that the association was to Outlook Express also. I put a check mark for .EML and clicked on Associate Now and verified that the association was set to TheBat!. I then did a restart and the association was still to TheBat!.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

Mark,
Don't know if this will work or not. I'm sure I read it in one of the Lounge posts but I can't find it. Anyhow, the poster had tried just about everything you have, and the only way he/she could get it to stick was through Control Panel>Folder Options>File Types. HTH.

JohnA Child's Mind, Once Stretched by Imagination...Never Regains Its Original Dimensions

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

OK, this is just plain strange. I did what you suggested when thru Options/Preferences/Applications and had TheBat set the associations. I restarted windows, and when check the file types, it showed TheBat! (so far, so good!) But when I started TheBat, I got the same message that .eml files were not associated with TheBat!!! In looking at the Filetypes windows, it showed this message: "You have customized files with extension 'EML'!". It didn't even show the Advanced button, only a Restore Defaults button.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

I wish I could be more help but I don't see that message no matter what I do! I did notice something a little unusual though. I went into the control panel file types and clicked on change and changed it to Outlook Express. Then the Advanced button was changed to Restore. I then started TheBat and it did not give the warning message and the application preferences still showed it set for TheBat. I used TheBat to change the association but the control panel file types still showed Outlook Express but the default was set for TheBat! It appears the once you change it manually via the control panel, it sticks to that setting and from then on TheBat only changes the default and the current assotiation.

Of course, none of this explains why you are still getting the message when you start TheBat. Is there a checkbox near the bottom saying "Don't show this ..." or something like that? I tend to disable all startup type of dialogs (ie: tips, etc) so that may be why I am not seeing the message.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

I've about given up on it and have just resigned myself to seeing that warning whenever I restart my computer! I figure one of these days I'll stumble on where it is being reset to Outlook Express. Thanks for trying.

Re: .eml file association (IE 6.0 sp2)

Robin,

Thanks, but I couldn't seem to find anything specific to my situation. On my system, the EML files somehow get reassociated with Outlook Expresss when I reboot. I can't figure out why, the people at TheBat couldn't figure out why, so I finally just gave up. It is just one extra mouse-click the first time I go into TheBat after rebooting.